The Usdan Weekly # 3 | July Community Day is next Wednesday

Usdan summers move quickly. In just three weeks, students are already showcasing inspiring artwork, performing in full length Theater productions and at Festival, and publishing a weekly Comic-Art zine (see excerpt above).

Next week, these student exhibitions culminate during our biggest fundraiser of the year: Community Day on Wednesday, July 22. We hope you will join us for a day celebrating the many worlds our students have imagined, created, and brought to life. The event is free, and donations are encouraged. Registration is required and closes Sunday, July 19.

Keep reading for a Festival spotlight, calls to action, and more. 

Lauren Brandt Schloss 
Executive Director

P.S. Tickets for our Hip-Hop Pool Party on Saturday, August 8 are now on sale! This summer bash is one of my favorite days of the season; it is an opportunity for all members of our community — no matter your relation to current Usdan students — to enjoy the height of summer on Usdan's campus.

Voice update

The theme of the summer is VOICE; the element of the summer is EARTH; and the insect of the summer is ANT. In every summer newsletter, we will provide an update on how these inspirations appeared on campus that week. Here's an update on VOICE! 

Our Junior Vocal Ensemble Majors and Minors kicked off the week with a bang, embodying the power of individual and collective VOICES. Check out the recap here. 

Tuesday's Festival featured work by Creative Writing Majors and Minors. Here's one poem that spoke to this summer's theme:  

If My Voice Left a Footprint

I talked for miles and
My voice left a footprint
Ohh how many beautiful footprints
Leading me through the meadow
And into the forest passing the secret keeping tree
Passing  the voices and their beautiful melody
I talked for miles and
My voice left a footprint
Footprints running, leading me through the trees
Leading me out of the forest
Leading me into memory lane
And with every memory it made me more sane
I talked for miles and
My voice left a footprint
Leading me not only through the path of my mind
But through life
Spreading my voice, my story and my song, for all the world to hear

— Anjie M., grade 6 

WATCH THE FESTIVAL RECAPS

Scenes from PJ Day 

Festival Spotlight: The Knights feat. young Usdan alum George Socolow 

Young Usdan alum George Socolow first met Colin Jacobsen in 2021 when George was a piano Major and Colin was an Artist in Residence with The Knights. This week at Festival, Colin accompanied an original composition George wrote — a full circle moment for the student-collaborator relationship that began at Usdan.

To introduce the piece during the Senior Festival on Thursday, July 16, George shared that Ray Bradbury's sci-fi novel "Fahrenheit 451" inspired his piece, and Colin remarked on the appropriateness of playing a piece that deals with the symbolism of fire as wildfire smoke hung in the air. The music, described by Colin as "urgent," offered another potent reminder of the ability for art to help us make sense of the world around us.  

In addition to their Festival performance on Thursday, The Knights spent the last three days completing their short-term mentorship residency, working with students in the current Classical Composition Major to read and perform their pieces at Festival today, Friday, July 17.*

If you missed the shows, watch the recording here, or plan to visit on Thursday, July 30 for another show by The Knights. 

‼️ CALLS TO ACTION ‼️  

What's coming up at usdan 

July Community Day: Wed, Jul 22 from 10:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m.

• Join us for a day filled with art, performances, raffles, and the magic of Usdan. Thanks to our generous sponsors, this is a free event. Registration is required, and donations are strongly encouraged. 
• 2026 Hip-Hop Pool Party: Sat, Aug 8 from 12:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m. 

  • Grab your bathing suit, shake off your dance moves, and join us for what promises to be a party for the history books! This is a ticketed event for all ages. 

• August Community Day: Wed, Aug 19 from 10:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m. 

Did you know? Tuition includes free access to phenomenal Festival shows for family members and friends. Festival performances, unless otherwise noted, will also be livestreamed, as well as recorded and posted, to our YouTube Channel. 

💥 Upcoming performances

• Monday, July 20
  • 12:10 p.m. | Festival: Junior Orchestra Majors
  • 12:35 p.m. | Festival: Senior Orchestra Majors 
     
• Tuesday, July 21
  • 10:30 a.m. | Theater Performance: "Evita" by Senior Musical Theater
  • 12:10 p.m. | Festival Performance: DJ Composition Minors 
  • 12:35 p.m. | Festival Performance: DJ Composition Minors 
  • 1:30 p.m. | Theater Performance: "Evita" by Junior Musical Theater
     
• Wednesday, July 22 | Community Day! 
  • Community Day features all-day programming including two fashion shows, comic-con, and community classes for all ages! Visit community.usdan.org for the full schedule. 
  • 10:30 a.m. | Theater Performance: "Emma! A Pop Musical JV" by Senior Musical Theater
  • 12:10 p.m. | Festival: 2026 Community Day Festival & Award Ceremony
  • 12:35 p.m. | Festival: 2026 Community Day Festival & Award Ceremony
  • 1:30 p.m. | Theater Performance: "How I Became a Pirate: Younger@Part" by Junior Musical Theater
     
• Thursday, July 23
  • 10:30 a.m. | Theater Performance: "Sleepy Hollow Awakens: A Washington Irving Remix" by Senior Musical Theater (World Premiere!) 
  • 11:00 a.m. | Discovery Performance & Exhibition 
  • 12:10 p.m. | Festival: Junior Band Majors
  • 12:35 p.m. | Festival: Senior Band Majors
  • 1:30 p.m. | Theater Performance: "Sleepy Hollow Awakens: A Washington Irving Remix" by Junior Musical Theater
     
• Friday, July 24
  12:10 p.m. | Festival: 4A Lifer Ceremony + Junior & Senior Dance Majors & Minors

🌈 Next Friday, July 24 is Dress as Your Favorite Character Day! Make sure to remind young artists attending to wear their coziest fit. 

Partners in the arts corner

Our Partners in the Arts are our second and third grade students transitioning into a more independent camp experience with the support of mature high school-aged students in our Leadership program. We started this column to share a little bit more about this special department on campus. 

"Pictured is everyone on the path that starts at the entrance of camp and ends by the swim hill. The campers in my group seem to really love this shortcut, and specifically request that we use it each and every morning.

I think while the reason for it’s popularity is in part due to how much faster it is, I’d argue that going down the forested dirt road, fosters a real sense of whimsy and adventure that I truly see reflected in how kids traverse it. I often see them slowing down a bit to look at something interesting, or excitedly point something out to a friend."

— Noa R., grade 12 

SAVE THE DATE: RETURN2U

Mark your calendars! Return2U for 2027 enrollment opens Wednesday, July 22. 

Return2U is an early enrollment program for returning students and their siblings that locks in the best possible tuition rate. It’s an opportunity to promise your child another inspiring summer full of boundless creativity, play, and friendship amidst the wonder of 140-acres of natural beauty. 

Thanks for reading!
Have a great weekend, and enjoy our quote of the week:

“The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands.”
— Robert M. Pirsig
"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values"

Do you have any Usdan news we should know about? Write to us at media@usdan.org or tag us on Instagram @usdanarts, and we may feature it in our next newsletter or on our social channels!